Living in the 70's - Panel Vans

ABC TV's This Day Tonight investigated the cult of the panel van on Adelaide streets in the 70's.
Patrick O'Neill's February 24th 1977 report is part of our look at Adelaide in the 1970's to celebrate About Time, the South Australian History Festival.

"Don't laugh, it could be your daughter inside!" declares This Day Tonight reporter Patrick O'Neill.

You get the feeling O'Neill has little time for panel vans or their owners in his 1977 story.

He describes panel van owners as cult members engaging in highly illegal competitive Jonesmanship to make their V8, four on the floor, travelling gin palaces as sexually enticing to young Adelaide girls as possible.

O'Neill joined the South Australian Panel Van Club for an ease on down the South Eastern Freeway to the sound of some smooth disco beats.

When the cavalcade of 62 vans arrived at their destination he described the din of 62 duelling quadraphonic sound systems as a cacophony.

O'Neill started by grilling a club President Allan Jacquier about the poor reputation of panel van owners.

"We haven't had any trouble with the police whatsoever," concluded a somewhat confused Jacquier.

Proving he was not afraid of placing himself in the story TDT's O'Neill reclined in the back of a shagging wagon alongside smartly dressed van owner David Beard for another hard hitting interview.

Beard's gin-wagon was a Holden Statesman Panel Van Special with the snappy number plate IGL 000.

The $21,000 luxury passion wagon housed a stereophonic 8 track tape player, cocktail bar and a colour TV that even worked when you are quite a distance from the major towns.

O'Neill pointed out that "the only thing it is lacking is a waterbed".

Beard conceded his panel van may be a girl catching sin bin but such nocturnal activities "have been going on at drive in theatres for 50 years, it's just these days we're doing it in more comfort".

The practical Beard deflected most of O'Neill's probing questions and offered "with motel accommodation fees the way they are $22 a night, it's terribly practical to have your own panel van".

This Day Tonight

We've handpicked some gems from ABC TV's past to mark the South Australian History Festival.

The stories come from the Adelaide archives of landmark 1960's and 1970's program This Day Tonight.

The controversial TDT was Australia's first nightly current affairs program that reacted to the news of the day.

Clive Hale was the presenter of Adelaide version of the program from its opening night in 1967 was until it was axed in 1978.

About Time

About Time is South Australia's inaugural History Festival.

The festival replaces History Week and expands to a month long celebration to mark the 175th anniversary of the proclamation of South Australia

Many of the state's museums, historical societies, cultural and community groups are holding events throughout May for About Time.